List of countries without rivers facts for kids
Did you know that not every place on Earth has a big, natural river flowing through it all the time? It's true! There are about 20 countries and 22 other territories that don't have what we call a permanent natural river. This means they might have small streams or rivers that only flow during certain times of the year, like after heavy rain. These temporary rivers are often called wadis, especially in dry regions.
The Arabian Peninsula is a huge area in the world where you won't find any permanent natural rivers. Instead, places here rely on wadis for water when it's available.
Even some special places, like Macau in China, don't have natural rivers. Macau once had a small man-made canal called Canal Dos Patos. However, this canal is being filled in by the local government because of environmental reasons. Soon, it will no longer exist.
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Countries Without Permanent Rivers
Some countries around the world do not have any permanent natural rivers. They often depend on other water sources like groundwater, desalination plants (which turn seawater into fresh water), or seasonal streams.
African Nations
Djibouti: This country in East Africa has many wadis that fill with water during the rainy season.
Libya: Located in North Africa, Libya also relies on wadis and underground water.
Asian Nations
Bahrain: An island nation in the Persian Gulf, Bahrain gets its water from underground sources and desalination.
Kuwait: This country in Western Asia uses desalination plants and underground water.
Maldives: A beautiful island nation in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives gets its fresh water from rain and desalination.
Oman: Located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, Oman has many wadis.
Qatar: A peninsula in the Persian Gulf, Qatar depends on desalination for its water supply.
Saudi Arabia: The largest country on the Arabian Peninsula, Saudi Arabia has a vast network of wadis.
United Arab Emirates: This country also relies on wadis and desalination plants.
Yemen: Located at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen has many wadis.
European Nations
Malta: An island country in the Mediterranean Sea, Malta has valleys and seasonal watercourses.
Monaco: A very small country on the French Riviera, Monaco does not have any rivers.
Vatican City: The smallest independent state in the world, located within Rome, Italy, it has no rivers.
Oceanian Nations
Kiribati: An island nation in the central Pacific Ocean, Kiribati relies on rainwater.
Marshall Islands: This nation of islands and atolls in the Pacific Ocean gets its water from rain.
Nauru: A tiny island country in Micronesia, Nauru depends on rainwater.
Tonga: A Polynesian kingdom of more than 170 islands, Tonga uses rainwater for its needs.
Tuvalu: An island nation in the Pacific Ocean, Tuvalu collects rainwater for fresh water.
Territories Without Permanent Rivers
Besides independent countries, some territories and dependencies also do not have permanent natural rivers.
Asian Territories
British Indian Ocean Territory: A group of islands in the Indian Ocean.
Macau: A special administrative region of China, as mentioned earlier.
European Territories
Gibraltar: A British Overseas Territory located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula.
North American Territories
Anguilla: A British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean.
Aruba: A constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean.
Bermuda: A British Overseas Territory in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Bonaire: A special municipality of the Netherlands in the Caribbean.
Cayman Islands: A British Overseas Territory in the western Caribbean Sea.
Curaçao: A constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean.
Saba: A special municipality of the Netherlands in the Caribbean.
Saint Barthélemy: A French overseas collectivity in the Caribbean.
Saint Martin: A French overseas collectivity in the Caribbean.
Sint Eustatius: A special municipality of the Netherlands in the Caribbean.
Sint Maarten: A constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean.
Turks and Caicos Islands: A British Overseas Territory in the Atlantic Ocean.
Oceanian Territories
Christmas Island: An Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean.
Cocos (Keeling) Islands: An Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean.
Easter Island: A special territory of Chile in the southeastern Pacific Ocean.
Niue: A self-governing island nation in free association with New Zealand.
Norfolk Island: An external territory of Australia in the Pacific Ocean.
Pitcairn Islands: A British Overseas Territory in the Pacific Ocean.
Tokelau: A territory of New Zealand in the South Pacific.
Learn More
In Spanish: Anexo:Países sin ríos para niños
- Lists of rivers
